Main Task - Producing a Music Magazine

For the main task i will have to plan and produce the front page and a double page spread of a music magazine. I have to decide on a specific genre for the magazine and i have to aim this for my target audience. The genre i have decided to base my magazine on is present rock music.

Analysis of a music magazine front cover

This music that is featured in this magazine is classic and contemporary rock. Other magazines that are similar to this is Q, Rolling Stones and NME. Mojo also has a DAB radio station, which also broadcasts on sky television. The music genre's that are represented in this magazine are rock and pop, as the main image is of a pop rock singer but she can also be grouped as having a jazz influence. The stylistic features used on this front cover is the white background with the black text this is used because these are contrasting colours also the white represents a clean canvas and the black text conveys the idea of being dark and having a sort of rock effect as this is the colour that is most associated with rock stars. the gold text that is used may be to break up the black and white colours as these are quite bold, gold is associated with wealth, so therefore all the featured artists names are in gold text on the front cover, this may be to show their wealth and importance. The use of the centre image shows that she is the main feature of the magazine, this is shown by using a full page image and also by having her name in large text across the middle of the magazine, the image is in black and white to also fit in with the colour scheme. The content that is typical of the genre is classic and contemporary rock music, on previous covers of Mojo magazine, they have featured artists such as Oasis, The Beatles and Queen, these all fit into the genre of classic and contemporary rock music. Elements that have been chosen are, there are a range of fonts that are used, but mainly the ones that are used are serif fonts hich connotates a classic/traditional image, examples of this is the main text Amy Whinehouse, this shows the importance she has to that edition of the magazine, and also tries to give an image of the sort of music she produces as being quite classic, as she is a 60's soul singer. The elemens of the page are laid out in three sections there is the cenral image and at both sides of this is the sell lines. By the absense of colour, the black and white colour scheme gives the appeal of being classic and tadititional. Te eye navigates around the page starting from the central image as this is the main feature then the eye travels around each of the sell lines.

coventions of a school/college magazine.

To make a magazine successful, you need to have some conventions which are the same as rules or guidelines, conventions are what need to be included, the main convention of a magazine is a mast head, as this will be the title or company name. this is the part that will stay the same throughout every issue and will make it recognisable. Another convention used on a front cover is features that will be included in the magazines, this is usually in put across in a small amount of text so that not too much information is given, so therefore people buy the magazine to find out more. The magazine will need an aim so that it can attract their target audience. Firstly, there is the idea of gender - if the magazine is directed at females then the colours are often soft and stereotypical to girls (e.g. - pink) whereas if a magazine is aimed at boys, the colours are often darker and stereotypical to boys (e.g. - blue). Along with the target gender the magazine will also have to target a specific age group that the magazine will be aimed for. It wil also need relevant articles for those age groups such as teenage boys will be interested in cars or football, this will then be the main focus of the front cover. Females will be interested in clothes and make-up stereotypicaly, so this would be the main the main focus for a girls magazine.